Freight-car.



No. 646,444. I Patented Apr. 3,1900. w. T. MANNING. FREIGHT GAR.

(Application filed Dec. 21, 1899,)

(No Model.)

4. Sheets-Sheet l FIG.2. J 16' No. 646,444. Patented r. 3, I900. w. T.MANNING. FREIGHT-CAR.

(Application filed Dec. 21, 1899.) (No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheef2.

WITNESSES:

Patented Apr. 3, I900.

W. T. MANNING.

FREIGHT cm.

(Application filed Dec. 21, 1899.)

(Nb Model.)

FIG.5.

INVENTOR,

. wAsumovaw o c No. 646,444. Patented Apr. 3, I900. W. T. MANNING.

FREIGHT CAR.

(Application filed Dec. 21, 1899.)

(No Mudel.) 4 Sheets$heet 4.

FIGJO.

'W UW/W n, a. c. m: Muflms PErERS c0. mcroumo. \vAsHmuTO NITED STATES PTENT Fries.

FREIGHT-CAR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 646,444, dated April 3,1900.

Applicati fil d December 21, 1899. Serial No. 741,094. (No model.)

which is usually unloaded from the sides or ends of a car and tothetransportation in the opposite direction of coal, coke, ore, or othermaterial which can .be most desirably unloaded by beingdischargedthrough the bottom of the car.

The improvement claimed is hereinafter fully set forth.

The present standard freight equipment of American railroads may begenerally divided into two classes: (a) fiat-bottomed cars,which may beeither so called box, flat, or gondola cars and which are unloaded fromtheir sides or ends, or both, and (1)) drop or hopper bottom cars, whichare unloaded through openings in their floors or in hoppers locatedbelow their floors. The pressedsteel hopper-bottom cars which haverecently been largely introduced and which are generally approved asgiving entirely satisfactory results in practice are specially designedfor the transportation of coal, coke, and ore, for which purpose theyare well suited, but are not adapted for use with grain or other classesof freight. In some instances, which are so few as to be properlyconsidered as exceptional, these cars may be and are used to carry coalor coke in one direction and ore in the other; but in the large majorityof cases they are loaded with coal or coke in one direction and arehauled back empty. Flat-floored box-cars are best adapted for thetransportation of grain, the movement of which on trunk-lines is fromwest to east almost exclusively, and are not Well suited for carryingcoal or coke, the movement of which on the same lines is correspondinglyin the opposite direction. As a result many of these cars'are hauledempty from east to west instead of being loaded with coal or coke whichmay be in readiness for transportation westward, being unremunerative inone direction, just as the hopper-bottomed cars used for coal or cokeare in the opposite direction.

Various designs of convertible cars have been heretofore proposed with aview to enable the car to be utilized for one class of freight in onedirection and for another class in the opposite direction; but so far asmy knowledge and information extend noneof these has been found topossess sufficient advantages to warrant its adoption to any appreciableextent in practical railroad service,

have usually involved complication of connanceand liability toderangement in operation to such an extent that they havefailed .cers.

My invention provides a car which has the capabilities of, either anordinary box-car or of a hopper-bottomed car, accordingly as it may beadj us'ted', and which may be changed from one form to another quicklyand by orcated mechanismfor the purpose or presenting features which areliable to breakage or derangement in regular service.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinalsection through a freight-ca r, illustrating an embodiment of myinvent-ion, at the line a a of Fig. 2, the car being in condition foruse as a flat-bottomed box-car; Fig. 2, a horizontal section through thesame, taken on a plane slightly above the top of the floor; Fig. 3, avertical longitudinal section through the same carat the line b b ofFig. 4, the car being in condition for use as a hopper-bottomed car;Fig. 4, a horizontal section taken on a plane slightly above the top ofthe floor; Fig. 5, a transverse section at the line 0 c of Fig.- 3; Fig.6, a horizontal section, on an enlarged scale, through the'centralportion of the floor and two adjacent hopper-covers when the latter arein the positions shown in Figs. 3 and4; Fig. 7, a similar sectionthrough one of the inner hoppercovers when in the position shown inFigs. 1 and 2; Fig. 8, a section, on a further-enlarged scale, throughthe abutting faces of the inner struction and resultant expenseofmainte-.

to meet the general approval of railroad, offidinary laborers withoutrequiring oomphthis being probably due to the fact that-they IOOhopper-covers when in the positions shown in Figs. 1 and 6; Fig. 9, avertical transverse section through one side of the car and through anadjoining hinged end incline; and Fig. 10, a longitudinal centralsection through the car with the inner planking or casing removed,showing the frame-trussing employed.

My invention is herein exemplified as applied in an eight-wheeledfreight-car having the general form and proportions of a box or housecar of the ordinary type employed on the railroads of the United States.The carbody is supported upon two four-wheeled trucks 1 1 in the usualmanner and is composed of two center and two side sills 2, posts 3,diagonal braces 4, inner planking or easing 5, outer planking 6,roofcarlines 7, a roof 8, and a floor 9, which are relativelyproportioned, disposed, and connected as in present standard practice.The sills 2 are shown as in the form of pressed-steel channels, but maybe of wood, if preferred. In order to strengthen the frame of the car,particularly when wooden sills are used, so that it may be adapted tothe transportation of comparatively-heavy loads when .used as ahopperbottomed car,diagonal truss-bars 10, which are preferably in theform of pressed-metal channels, are interposed between the side sillsand the top beams 11 of the sides of the car,

said truss-bars being connected to top and bottom plates 12 13 and beingprovided with shoes or sockets 14 for the reception of the upper andlower sections of the posts 3, which intersect the truss-bars. Openings15, closed by outer sliding doors 16, are formed in the central portionsof the sides of the car, and an inner grain-door 17 is pivoted at one ofits lower corners to a post at one'side of each of the center openings15, so as to swing upwardly upon its pivot when not in use, as indicatedin dotted lines in Fig. 3. Loading-ports 18 are formed in the sides ofthe car intermediate of its center openings and its ends and are closedby outer sliding doors 19. The floor 9 is cut away between the centerand side sills and between the vertical planes of the sides of thecenter openings 15 and the inner axles of the trucks 1 1, and two pairsof hopper-bottoms 20, which are downwardly inclined toward the centraltransverse plane of the car and are closed by doors 21 in the usualmanner, are secured to the sills 2, below the openings in the floor, apair of hopper-bottoms being located between each side sill and theadjacent center sill. The opening in the floor above each hopper-bottommay be either covered or uncovered, as the conditions of use require, respectively, by means of hopper-covers 22 23, the covers 22 nearer themiddle of the car being termed for distinction inner hoppercovers andthose, 23, nearer the ends of the car being termed outer hopper-covers.The

hopper-covers are connected by hinges 24 to the floor and when turneddown into position .to cover the flooropenings above the hopperbottoms,as in Figs. 1, 2, and 7, they lie flush with the floor and theiradjacent free ends abut closely and are supported on hearingbars 25,secured to the sills 2. The abutting edges of the hopper-covers and ofthe sections of the floor 9, against which they fit, are provided withmetal facings 26 and 27, respectively, and are beveled or inclined, soas to make grain-tight joints, and the lower sides of the innerhopper-covers are preferably covered and protected by metal surfaceplates 28 for the purpose of preventing wear or damage by the action ofthe load thereon.

When the car is to be loaded as a hopperbottomed car, the hopper-coversare turned into the positions shown in Figs. 3, 4t, 5, 6, and 8, so asto entirely uncover'the floor-openings above the hopper-bottoms 20 andto form a ridge or double-inclined wall above the floor between theinner ends of the floor-openings, the sides of which ridge are inclinedat substantially the same angle as the doors 21 of the hopper-bottoms.The inner hopper-covers 22 are held in this position bya catch 29,projecting from the abutting edge of one of them and entering a recessin the corresponding edge of the other and by a swinging lock 30 of anysuitable and preferred construction, as shown in Fig. 8. The continuityof the ridge or double-inclined wall between the floor-openings ismaintained by metal flaps 31, which are hinged to the lwer sides of theinner hopper-covers and held in position by catches 32 and whichswing-over and cover the space at the middle of the car between theinner hopper-covers, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5. The joint between theinner hoppercovers is covered and protected by a metal ridge-piece 33,hinged to one of the ham 31. Rests 34, which may be of angle or T iron,

are secured to the lower sides of the outer hop ings above thehopper-bottoms to the ends of' the car. The hinge-pivots of the endinclines are set at substantially the same angle to the floor of the caras the hopper-bottoms, so that when the end inclines are swungdownwardly into the positions shownin Figs. 3, 4, and 5 they liesubstantially in line with the hopper-bottoms 20 and form continuationsthereof extending to the ends of the car. When in this position, theyare supported on rests 36, secured to the ends of the car, and on therests 34 of the outer hopper-covers 23, which are then turned intoposition to receive them. Coal, coke, ore, or other loading may thus besupported on inclined floors extending from the ends of the car to thelower ends of the hoppers and be discharged therefrom by gravity, as inthe ordinary hopper-bottomed cars.

\Vhen the car is to be loaded as a fiat-bot- IIO 7 the useof specialtools or skilledlabor.

tomed car, the end inclines are turned up against the sides of the carand are held in such position by gravity-locks 37 of any suitable andpreferred form, as shown in Figs. 1 and 9. The inner and outerhopper-covers are turned down on their bearing-bars 25, thereby coveringthe floor-openings above the hopper-bottoms and presenting asubstantially-unbroken fiat floor throughout the car, upon which packageor other freight may be loaded in the usual manner. The grain-doors 17,being pivoted, as shown, can be swung up out of the way when load iscarried on the end inclines and hopperbottoms and readily turned intothe position shown in Fig. 1 when the car is adjusted as a fiat-bottomedcar and is to be used for the transportation of grain.

The adjustable end inclines 35 are not in and of themselves claimed asof my invention, and, on the other hand, my invention is not limited toa construction embodying the specific form and disposition of saidinclines herein described and shown. ample, the inclines may, ifpreferred, be hinged to the ends instead of to the sides of the car andmay be counterbalanced, so as to facilitate their movement from one tothe other position'ofadjustment for service. In such case a singleincline at each end of the car may be employed in lieu of a pair ofopposite inclines, as in the instance shown. Modifications of structuraldetail will readily suggest themselves to and be within. the province ofthe skilled car-builder, and such may be made without departurefrom theoperative principle and'essential features of my in'vention. V

It will be observed that the adjustment of the hopper-covers andendinclines'by which the car is changed from. a flat-bottomed to ahopper-bottomed car, and vice versa, can be made in avery short timewithout involving hoisting mechanism of anykind is necessary,

and the construction and disposition of the movable members are suchthat in either adjustment of the car they are not liable to injury orderangement and present no substantial interference with loading orunloading nor any objectionablecurtailment of space within the car.

I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1 1. In afreight-car,the combination of frame sills, two oppositely-inclinedhopper-bottoms connected thereto, a flat floor having openings above thehopper-bottoms, and hoppercovers hinged to the floor above said openingsand adapted to be swung upwardly into position to abut andform a ridgeor double-inclined wall above the floor between the inner ends of saidopenings.

2. In a freight-car, the combination of center and side frame-sills, twopair of oppositely inclined hopperbottoms connected thereto andseparated longitudinally by the Thus, for 6X Nov center sills, a flatfloor having openings above the hopper-bottoms, hopper-covers hinged tothe floor above said openings and adapted to be swung upwardly in pairsinto position to abut and form ridges or double-inclined walls above thefloor between the inner ends of said openings, and flaps hinged to thehopper-00v ers and movable into position to cover the central spacebetween the ridges or inclined walls.

I 3. In a freight-car, the combination of frame-sills, twooppositely-inclined hopperbottoms connected thereto, a flat floor havingopenings above the hopper-bottoms, hoppercovers hinged to the floorabove said openings and adapted to be swung upwardly into po sition toabut and form a ridge or double-inclined wall above the floor betweenthe inner ends of said openings,and end inclines hinged to the car-bodyand adapted to be swung downwardly into positions to form inclinedfloors extending, substantially in line with the hopper-bottoms, fromthe outer-ends erthe floor-openings to the endsof the car.

4. In a freight-car, the combination of frame-sills,twooppositely-inclined hopperbottoms connected thereto, a fiat floor havingopenings above the hopper-bottoms, andhope per-covers hinged to thefloor above said openings, and abutting against the floor and againsteach other by inclined .or beveled faces. 4 v I 5. In a freight-car,-the combination of frame-sills, two oppositely-inclined hopperbottomsconnected thereto, a flat floor having openings above thehopper-bottoms, inner and outer hopper-covers, each hinged at one 'endto the floor above one of said openings,

and bearing-bars supporting the outer or free ends of saidhopper-covers. f

6. In a freight-car, the combination of frame-sills, twooppositely-inclined hopper bottoms connected thereto, a flat floorhaving openings above the hopper-bottoms, inner and outer hopper-covershinged to the floor at opposite ends of said openings, the innerhopper-covers being adapted to be swung into position to abut and form aridge or doubleinclined wall above the fioor betweensaid openings,andthe'outer hopper-covers to be swung fiat upon the floor, rests fixedto the lower sides of the outer hopper-covers, rests fixed to the endsof the car, and end inclines hinged to the car-body and adapted to be Iopenings above the hopper-bottoms and being otherwise substantiallycontinuous from end to end of the car, means for covering and uncoveringsaid openings and coincidently forming a ridge or double-inclined Wallabove the floor between their inner ends, and movable end inclinesadapted to be adjusted in position to form inclined fioprs extending,substantiallyin line with the hopper-bottoms, from the outer ends of thefloor-openings to the ends of the car.

8. In a freight-car, the combination of frame-sills, twooppositely-inclined hopperbottolns connected thereto, a flat floorhaving openings above the hopper-bottoms, hoppercovers hinged to thefloor above said hopperbottoms, a post-and-beam frame supportingsheathing or planking and a roof, diagonal metal truss-bars interposedbetween the floor and the upper beams of the frame, shoes or socketssecured to the truss-bars, and postsections fitting in said shoes andabutting against the upper and lower frame members.

W'ILLIAM T. MANNING. Witnesses:

F. H. B. BULLOCK, J. SNOWDEN BELL.

